Amber is fortunate to be one of the most sought after vocal coaches in Marin County. Her students have appeared on national television series such as E! True Hollywood Stories, American Idol, MTV's Rock The Cradle and NBC's America's Got Talent. Many of Amber's students choose to pursue their singing further and have gone on to study at schools such as Berklee College of Music and The London Centre of Contemporary Music. Amber has worked with 3 of the 4 voice students admitted into the competetive popular music program at USC's Thornton School of Music in 2009.
Amber coaches all levels from professionals to beginners, (ages 13 - adult). The goal of her program is effortless singing. Using principles of resonance (not pushing) helps express the unique character of the individual, offers freedom, comfort and a great big balanced sound. Amber is interested in offering tools that empower the singer, thereby helping them find their own unique instrument and sound. Those students working in the genres of pop, soul, rock, blues, jazz, and country are usually a good fit for working with Amber.
Focus On:
* breathing foundations
* good posture
* extending/connecting range
* creating authentic vocal character
* creating quality tone
* genre stylism
* diction/articulation
* removal of bad habits
Group Workshops
* Workshop series for pre-teens ages 11-13, Thur. 4:15 - 5:45 pm, weekly
If you are interested in lessons, have questions about rate, availability or scheduling, contact Alicia at 415-289-6674, or contact us by email at info@ambermorrismusic.com or snail-mail at Amber Morris Voice Coaching, 145 Corte Madera Town Center #618, Corte Madera, CA 94925.
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"Amber started bringing her students to perform for Bread & Roses in May 2008. Her enthusiasm and love for her work is evident. She has generously brought her talent and time to coordinating shows for those less fortunate." CAROLYN GAUTHIER, Program Director, Bread & Roses
"Amber Morris has had a huge impact on the Marin Academy Music program and on me personally. Since she started working with our singers (22 of them the last time we counted) the musical standards have risen to a whole new pitch. She teaches them technique - who else knows so much about the tongue??- but she also helps them find the feeling and attitude. Her students love her, not only for her gifts as a teacher, but for the ways in which she is so passionately committed to them. I find inspiration in Amber's singing and her insistence on working with the best, in her striving for perfection and her directness of communication. She's also as hooked up as anyone I know in this local musical community - if you want a referral for a player or singer go to Amber! We have a thriving music scene here in San Rafael and in the Bay Area. Amber makes things happen, she is a center and a unifying force. She's also a relentless agitator not content with the status quo! We all love you!!"
-BOB SCHLEETER, Music Director, Marin Academy
"There is just something about Amber. It is not simply that she holds the key to every vocal quandary, or that she has the power to teach her students how to feel music on a deeper level. It isn't even the tremendous commitment and loyalty she carries for her students, or her ability to see each of her singers uniquely and prescribe vocal techniques accordingly. Amber's magic goes beyond that. There is a quality to her, a sort of fanciful power that draws people to her. And it is this charisma that makes Amber so extraordinary. Never in my life have I known a voice teacher to be so invested in the happiness and success of her students.
Vocally, Amber took me to a place I did not know I was capable of reaching. Her passion for singing is inspiring and the depth of her knowledge reaches farther than the eye can see. She believes in her students and she genuinely wants them to reach their goals. I will forever be thankful for Amber's drive, compassion, and hard work ethic. I am so glad to have found her!"
- ROZZI CRANE, Student USC Thornton Contemporary Music Program
"Amber, your work with Katie has been great. I can't remember if it has been three or four years of voice lessons now. Katie always loved to sing and she started taking lessons with another teacher when she was about 8 or 9. That teacher taught her to 'belt' and to do musical theatre but it was a pretty limited way of singing and one that might have eventually ruined her voice. When she first started with you, she was so excited to do the exercises and to work on her singing technique. When she chose and worked on her first song, it became so apparent to all of us that she had a great capacity for singing. These past few years have been amazing. We have watched her develop into a confident performer, and her voice has just grown bigger and better with each passing month. Her voice is so pure, so soulful, and so complex now. I know I am her Mom, but I almost hold my breath when I hear her sing, not wanting to miss one nuance of it. You are an amazing teacher, a lovely person, and I wish Jim, and Zan and I could all take lessons from you! Thank you for sharing your great talent with us.
- GAIL MORRIS, Marin County
"Amber Morris is hands down the most professional, creative and supportive vocal instructor that I have had the privilege to work with. Before coming to Amber I viewed singing as a task. It was something I loved to do but had always struggled with. With Amber's help I was able to find my true voice; effortless, free and full of tone. She has turned singing into a complete pleasure for me and I am eternally grateful to her. Amber has an unparalleled ability to diagnose and fix problems that can cause difficulty and strain in the voice. She understands the voice inside and out, backwards and forwards; so much so that she is able to identify constraints and completely eliminate them. With Amber, the voice is boundless. She has opened my voice and my ability to ranges and tones far beyond what I had ever expected. Within one lesson with Amber, I was addicted to her unique style and eager to relish all the time I had with her. Her methods are practical, tangible and insightful. It would be a shame to pass an opportunity to work with her and I can only hope to find someone of her caliber as I head to college and beyond.
- CHASE BALDOCCI, Lead Singer for The Bob Hill Band and student at Vocal Institute in Los Angeles
"I looked forward to all of my lessons with Amber not only because of singing but because I knew her studio was a safe place for me to let go. I trust her more than anyone else, and am so grateful for her time, compassion, and advice. Amber has shaped my life, having helped me find confidence and my inner strength."
- NATASHA ZOUVES
"I came to Amber as an avowed bassist hoping to gain confidence in my voice and express my musical ideas vocally with ease and fluidity. After a year of lessons, I'm amazed at the extent I've been able to realize this goal, and it was Amber's unique and supportive instruction that made it possible. What has always impressed me about Amber is her profound understanding of the voice. Her ear is impeccable and from my very first lesson she was tuned into my voice. She could tell exactly where I was hitting barriers and could immediately show me how to transcend them, giving me access to areas of my range and tonalities that I never thought I was capable of. She is also able to apply her technique to any musical style I've ever wanted to sing, ranging from Soul to Country. Thus, lessons are constantly relevant to my musical exploits and leave me with practical skills and newfound abilities that I can immediately apply to my music. Studying with Amber has helped me expand my range and has given me a deeper understanding of, and connection to my voice, as well as the confidence and ease of expression that I had initially hoped for. But the most valuable thing I've learned from Amber is to begin to see my voice as she does; not for it's limits, but for it's possibilities. With this attitude and Amber's help, I have become confident and comfortable exploring my voice and this has brought me joy and inspiration that I know will continue throughout my life."
- ERIC WOLFF, Lead Singer/Bassist, Student at UCSB
"Being a professional musician, I believe that I have a good understanding of what it takes to teach music and get the best out of your students. Amber teaches vocals to my 13-year old daughter, Olivia, and not only does she make it a profoundly enjoyable experience, she has the uncanny ability to bring out the very best of the talent inside. Attending one of Amber’s showcases is a testament to how wonderful a teacher she truly is. Amber is caring, loving and obviously possesses the vocal talents herself that makes it easy for her to pass them on to her students. All of her students adore her, and why not, she is a wonderful lady and an awesome teacher!"
BILL GIBSON, proud parent and drummer, Huey Lewis & the News
"Our daughter, Lara, has been taking vocal training from Amber Morris for about 9 months and we are very pleased with the progress she has made in a short time. Lara's self-confidence and comfort level while singing in front of an audience improved dramatically. She attributes this to her ability to stay on pitch and an improved range in her voice. As Lara puts it, "she (Amber) takes you to a higher level." Lara enjoys working with Amber because she is professional in her teaching method and also fun to experience. This can be verified by any of several students who go to high school with Lara and have all had a positive experience. Diane and I enjoy Amber as a person, as well as a vocal coach for Lara. She is upbeat and brings her positive attitude to work, social settings, and her family life as well."
TOM JOHNSTON, The Doobie Brothers
“I have been taking voice lessons with Amber for a year and have had an enlightening experience. She is supportive, encouraging and the consummate professional. She puts her students first in every way. I have gained confidence and technical skills from working with her. Amber is fresh in her approach and very energetic. I can’t image making the progress that I have in one year and enjoying it any more than I have."
- KENDAL AGINS-FREIDMAN
"Amber Morris has been teaching my daughter Olivia...and the progress she has made has been truly remarkable. Amber has brought Olivia out of her shell and shown her the joy of voice. Amber is a kind hearted, positive, loving and energetic person who truly loves her work. She is passionate about music and it translates to her students. We feel so lucky to have Amber in our lives and are very grateful for the work she is doing to help Olivia pursue her dream of music.".
LIZ GIBSON
"The growth we have seen since our 15 year old daughter Lindsay has been working with Amber Morris can only be described as amazing. My wife, who is also a trained professional vocalist, and myself attribute this growth directly to the dedicated efforts of Amber. Amber has it all: the technical knowledge, the teaching skills and the rare ability to address a young artist as a whole person. Her professionalism and skill coupled with her nurturing personality have empowered our daughter, as well as her other students, to excel on all levels. Her students are impeccably trained and confident. Clearly she gets more from her students then any vocal teacher we have personally encountered. We would wholeheartedly recommend Amber to any parent who is considering formal vocal training for their child."
MARK FISHKIN, Founder Mill Valley Film Festival
"Amber Morris taught at our Blue Star Music Camp in San Anselmo last summer. Her enthusiasm and passion for teaching voice to kids is really contagious. As director of BSMC, I really appreciated the chance to have someone like Amber, who is experienced in all aspects of performing, which is what Blue Star is all about. Showing students how to warm up their voices is crucial, especially to those new to performing. In our ensemble workshops Amber was very valuable in orchestrating both solo pieces and background vocal performances. What really excites me is giving students a chance to “explore” and find their “voice” in an authentic creative way. I feel Amber’s teaching unlocks this in her students and gets them to really “feel” the music. I look forward to working with Amber next summer at Blue Star Music Camps."
- JIMMY DILLON, Director, Blue Star Music Camp
"When I first thought about a vocal coach or teacher, I had the image of someone akin to a prison warden sitting in front of a piano banging on one key over and over shaking his/her head in disgust at my vocal performance. Amber couldn't have been more of a polar opposite. Amber is extremely intuitive. She can, in a very short time, see what is going on inside and illustrate exactly what each individual needs to bring out the best qualities in their voice. Amber is completely non-judgmental. Though she always motivates me to perform at my best, I always feel safe with her. I can let my voice find itself and know that she will only guide me, never criticize me. I can't believe the progress I have made in just a few months. My tone was dark and not very pleasing. With Amber's guidance, I've opened places inside from which my voice can ring out. My tone is now bright, clear and has more power than I ever imagined. I have realized that with Amber's instruction, I am no longer limited by my voice. I can now use it as an instrument and I now sing with complete awareness. I can make choices and not be confined by a limited number of vocal qualities. Amber always goes the extra distance for me. I know she's there if I need extra help. She encourages her students to call her if they don't understand something or are unsure of how to perform something correctly. Amber always knows the right thing to say that allows me to bring out the qualities I want from my voice. Amber's experience is amazing. As a performer, it really helps to learn from someone who's active in the musical community, and who is out there performing regularly. Her voice is inspiring."- JEFF SNOW
"I am so happy to have worked with Amber! She gave me the tools to find my own voice, and encouraged my growth even when that meant she'd be losing a student. She brings her experience of performing into her lessons and you get so much more than you expect when you work with her. I am so glad to have Amber as a teacher and a friend."
MELISSA PHILLIPS
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